Councillors & Staff

If you wish to raise an issue with the council you can do so by contacting any of the councillors listed or, if you prefer, by contacting the clerk to the council using the contact details shown below.

Your Councillors

Simon Langley

Councillor Simon Langley
Chairman

Youth Provision representative

8 Riverton Road, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8BW

Tel: 01278 683007
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I am currently the chairman of Puriton Parish Council. I enjoy playing an active role in the community. I have lived with my family in Puriton since 2006 when we began renovating our old house. I am a Trainer/Assessor for the electrical department at Bridgwater College.

Judith Fletcher

Councillor Judith Fletcher
Vice Chairman

Tel: 07717 831082
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I moved to Puriton with my husband and two sons in 1996 after living and working in Taiwan for 15 years. In addition to being a parish councillor, I am chairperson of Puriton Sports Centre as well as being involved with the Flower Show Society. I work as a free-lance copy editor with clients mostly in the Far East, and on Sunday mornings I’m behind the counter in Court Farm Butchers. In my spare time I like spending time with my granddaughter, cycling, gardening and reading novels.

John Lunn

Councillor John Lunn
Council Member

Chairman of the Staffing Committee

1 Riverton Road, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8BW

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I worked in London and then Suffolk as a languages teacher and examinations officer before retiring and moving to Puriton in May 2014. In May 2015 I was elected to Puriton Parish Council and represent the Council at meetings of the Polden Medical Practice Patient Participation Group . I enjoy spending time in France, watching rugby and playing the occasional round of golf.

Sandra Tizzard

Councillor Sandra Tizzard
Council Member

4 Middle Street, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8AU

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I moved with my family to the Post Office in April 1972, and since 1992 I have served as the village sub-postmistress. I was co-opted onto the Council in 1996 and, with the exception of a year’s break, have had the honour of being elected a councillor since. I have also enjoyed being an active charity trustee of the Puriton Playing Fields since 1986.

Barrie Crow

Councillor Barrie Crow
Council Member

26 Hillside Road, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8AN

Tel: 07770 895055
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I have lived with my family in Puriton for 30 years. I have served as a parish councillor since 2011. In addition to being a councillor I am a Non-Executive Director on Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. I used to own a builders merchants, but am now happily retired and enjoy playing sport and travelling. My aim is to help further improve Puriton.

Vanda Crow

Councillor Vanda Crow
Council Member

Staffing Committee member

26 Hillside Road, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8AN

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I have lived in the village for over 38 years. I am married and recently retired from the NHS after working in and around the area for 43 years. I have many interests including having two dogs and I count myself as being a responsible dog owner! I am keen to see Puriton benefit and positively grow, and not be ignored and disadvantaged by all that is going on around us.

Dawn Saunders

Councillor Dawn Saunders
Council Member

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I have lived in Puriton for 18 years, I work in a small local Accountancy practice in Bridgwater. I was a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. In my spare time I enjoy dancing, reading and spending time with my family.

Jackie Maher

Councillor Jackie Maher
Council Member

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I moved to Puriton from Bristol with my 4 children just over 30 years ago, and it’s the best move I ever made! I worked in retirement property sales for the last 20 years of my career before retiring 4 years ago. Retirement gave me the opportunity to get involved with village life. I enjoy my involvement in Puriton Village Hall, Villages Together, my role as Treasurer of Puriton Allotment Association and recently becoming a Parish Councillor. I have lots of interests, including our allotment in the village, spending time with my grandchildren, lots of handicrafts, and being ‘mum’ to our little rescue puppy Buddy!

Mark Healey

Unitary Councillor Mark Healey

31 Riverton Road, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8BP

Tel: 01278 685368
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I am Chairman of Devon & Somerset Fire Authority. I was delighted to receive an MBE in the 2016 Honours List in recognition of my work with the fire service and the recent ‘Fire Kills’ campaign, which I hope will go on to save lives.

Suria Aujla

Unitary Councillor Suria Aujla

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I moved to Somerset in 2017, and I’ve been a Somerset Councillor for Huntspill since May 2022. I’m also a Bridgwater Town Councillor, having been elected in May 2019 and I’m a Governor at Polden Bower. I have a legal background and currently work for an international law firm.

Staff Employed by the Council

Sally Diaz

Sally Diaz
Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer (RFO)

17 Sealey Close, Draycott, Cheddar BS27 3UA

Tel: 01934 221659
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My background has been in Education and administration and I have worked in both Canada and the Canary islands during my career. Please feel free to call or email me regarding any issue.

Chris Gulliford

Chris Gulliford
Village Ranger

2 Rowen Close, Puriton, Bridgwater TA7 8AL

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The Village Ranger is the caretaker for the village. He works part time carrying out minor maintenance and helps ensure the streets and open spaces are safe and clean. Profile: I have lived in Puriton for over 20 years and was appointed Village Ranger in April 2014. I worked at the Royal Ordinance Factory for 29 years before becoming a self employed gardener. I have many clients throughout the Polden Villages, including in Puriton. I enjoy taking pride in helping my home parish to look neat and tidy. I also sit on the Villages Together Floral Group.

How to become a council member

To be a member of the Council you must meet the following criteria:

  • be at least 18 years old, and
  • be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights, and meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
  1. You are registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
  2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of the election.
  3. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish.
  4. You have lived in the parish or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of the election.

Contact the clerk for further information. Vacancies will be advertised on the website and noticeboards.

More guidance on how to stand to be a local councillor can be found on the electoral commission website.